SIVAGANGA: A vadamadu manjuvirattu competition was held at Manakudi, near Sivaganga, on Monday as part of the Ayyanar temple festival, with 17 bulls and 153 participants taking part, even as Madurai gears up for the State’s first jallikattu event in 2026 at Avaniyapuram gallery.

The event was conducted at a circular arena near the temple, where each round allowed 25 minutes to subdue a bull. As per the rules, nine participants entered the arena in each round to control the animal. Vadamadu manjuvirattu is a variation of traditional allikattu, in which a bull is tied to a long rope in a field, and participants try to jump on its hump.

Both the bulls and the participants were permitted to compete only after undergoing medical examinations, organisers said. Prizes were awarded to participants who successfully handled the bulls and to owners of bulls that could not be subdued.

The competition drew a large turnout from nearby villages, including Manakudi, Muthupatti, Sakkandhi, Nattakulam, Komalipatti, Pasangarai and Kalamekki, who gathered to watch the event.